The hottest startups in Seattle: Nominations now open for The Seattle 10

What are the hottest startup companies in Seattle? We’re about to find out, and we need your help!

It’s that time of year again where pick The Seattle 10, recognizing the most compelling and cutting-edge startup companies from our region.

We’ve partnered once again with Seattle’s Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) and the Bezos Center for Innovation for this fun project in which we’ll choose 10 innovative startups to sketch their business ideas on giant six-by-six foot canvas cocktail napkins. (Nomination details below).

The 10 startups chosen for this honor will have their cocktail napkin drawings placed on display at the Museum of History and Industry, debuting in front of 1,000 people at the GeekWire Gala on December 7th. (Reminder: The GeekWire Gala sells out every year, and early-bird tickets are now on sale for this fun holiday party. Tickets here).

Interested in nominating a cutting-edge startup to join the ranks of “The Seattle 10” this year?

Here’s how it will work: Send us a brief description on why you think the startup idea will change the world. (Send directly to me at john@geekwire.com with subject line of Seattle 10).

Seattle 10 companies on display at MOHAI

We’re looking for big and bold ideas across a range of industries, from biotechnology and materials science to software and virtual reality.

Past honorees in The Seattle 10 program have included mobile marketing powerhouse Tune; materials science startup Modumetal; asteroid miner Planetary Resources and Turi, the machine learning startup formerly known as GraphLab and Turi which sold to Apple earlier this year for about $200 million.

We’ll sort through this year’s nominations with the help of an awesome crew of startup experts, and pick the 10 startup companies that we feel are most deserving.

It is also important to note that we’re looking for startup companies that have moved out of the idea stage, those which have already shown tremendous traction with their products or services. Deadline for submission is this Friday, October 21st at 5 p.m.

Note: You do not have to work at a company in order to nominate a startup for the Seattle 10.

One team member from each selected company will receive free entry to the Gala, including the opportunity to talk to guests about their idea and what makes it so awesome.

Representatives of the museum will distribute the large-scale cocktail napkins in late October or early November, and will include a “how to” manual and supplies for designing your masterpiece. All you need to do is think big, recreating your entrepreneurial idea on this fascinating canvas for all of Seattle to see.

OK, so what are you waiting for?

Send us those nominations this week, and maybe your company will have what it takes to be one of “The Seattle 10.”

Want to see all of the fun unfold?

Make sure to grab your tickets for this year’s GeekWire Gala — the geekiest holiday party on Earth — before we sell out. A big thanks to Wells Fargo, the presenting sponsor of this year’s Gala.